Mordaunt replaces Patel as International Development Secretary. Some people will do anything for fame

Last Updated: November 9, 2017By

Penny Mordaunt will be used to jobs that can get people into deep water, having appeared in ITV’s diving show Splash! in 2014.

People with disabilities will be breathing a momentary sigh of relief as Penny Mordaunt, former minister with responsibility for them at the DWP, has been named the new Secretary of State for International Development, replacing Priti Patel – who resigned in disgrace yesterday (November 8).

Ms Mordaunt will have important questions to answer about the state of her new department, and may be facing a considerable clean-up job. As a former magician’s assistant, though, perhaps Theresa May is hoping she’ll simply wave a magic wand and it will all go away. This Writer has doubts about that.

Like Ms Patel, she is a committed Brexiter.

One activity in which she is unlikely to participate was revealed by Ms Mordaunt while receiving her Parliamentarian of the Year award from The Spectator in 2014. She admitted that she had made a speech on poultry welfare the previous year, in order to use the word “cock”, as a forfeit for a misdemeanour during Naval Reserve training. She did so six times, employing the words “lay” or “laid” five times.

She was subsequently accused by Labour’s Kate Hoey of trivialising Parliament.

Considering the state of the current government, she will undoubtedly face stronger criticisms as Mrs May’s administration winds down to its now-inevitable collapse.


Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.


The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

6 Comments

  1. NMac November 9, 2017 at 3:03 pm - Reply

    New ministers in this decayed government don’t have to have talent, just be bigoted Brexiteers. When this government finally collapses I wonder whether it will be with a bang of more scandal, or with just a pathetic whimper.

  2. Roland Laycock November 9, 2017 at 3:46 pm - Reply

    One witch out and one in they must have a draw full of them

  3. chriskitcher November 9, 2017 at 4:08 pm - Reply

    Another heartless bast*rd, has to be having been disabilities minister, is just the right mindset to deal with the aid budget. In fact I don’t think that any Tory should have input into any post that requires compassion or empathy.

  4. marcusdemowbray November 9, 2017 at 4:43 pm - Reply

    “…inevitable collapse”. I have been thinking it was imminent for over a year, cannot understand how she is still in power, worried that NOTHING will be able to rid us of her!

  5. Tony Dean November 9, 2017 at 4:45 pm - Reply

    Mordaunt’s replacement at the DWP is just as bad or even worse.

    https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24948/sarah_newton/truro_and_falmouth

  6. Florence November 9, 2017 at 7:25 pm - Reply

    Is it me, or do I see a pattern of cutting teeth in the DWP on disabled people, then elevation to doing the same to the rest of the world in the DfID?

Leave A Comment